Having family that has been in law enforcement for a long time, it's true that past experiences certainly take a precedent as to how you deal with an individual. Sure, this guy might have been totally harmless, but hiding in a dark closet and a police officer can't see his hands if a VERY dangerous situation to be in, especially if he has a record.

Taser technology claims to be non-lethal. I think we now know, however, the strength of the persons heart dictates the Taser's lethality. I don't think you can blame the officers here -- it's the subject who did the wrong. Those guys in blue just wanted to go home and see their kids.

I agree that officers should not be asked to take unnecessary risks. But TASERs are meant to be an alternative to lethal force. In other words, they should be using them in situations where they normally would use their sidearm.

Lately there seems to be a developing pattern of officers using their TASERs on anyone who gets a little uppity. That's wrong and dangerous.

As for dark closets, I have yet to meet a cop who didn't have a flashlight.

Well, I would say it depends on the situation. I guess I'm partial only because of my close affiliation with the law enforcement community. I just done think it's fair to crucify the LEO's in this situation when no investigation reports are out yet. I would rather taser this guy should I know he's been violent in the past, rather than taking the chance he's got a knife or gun on him that can be used to hurt or kill me. Cops just never get the benefit of the doubt.

Our differences of opinion lie in the lazy reporting. They don't say that he's dangerous, they only report that police claim he has a "history". After they zapped him they report that the police "believed" he was armed.

They fail to report what his "history" is, and what it was that made police "believe" he was armed. Does he have a history of armed robbery or just drug use? It makes a difference. Did police see him with something in his hand, or were they merely speculating that he might be armed? It's all in the (lack of) reporting.

Right, so why not give the officers the benefit of the doubt?

Because I'm naturally skeptical of the government.

I can see both sides... I used to live in a city where the cops existed simply to harass the citizens, so I have a natural distrust of cops... However, I moved to another area a couple years ago, equally small(er) suburb town, but the cops here came to my house after it was built and welcomed me to the neighborhood, dropped off a little info packet with handy numbers for emergency/poison folks and went on their way... Unlike my old neighborhood, I don't cringe when I see them, and here, they never do speed traps, except about once a month in the school zone, and even then only while the kids are out. Cops here are great.. Oops, got off on a tangent. :)

Anyway, I don't have a ton of respect for people that would repeatedly have cops called on them anyway, so if I WERE a cop, I would be thinking "this piece of crap might kill me if I just open this door, why take any chances?"... I can definitely see a case for that. :) In short while I distrust govt as well, and the police as a whole, individual policemen can be ok, and as a cop, I would hate to expose myself to danger from people the planet could probably do without. :)

The thing with tasers is interesting. My instructor says they are overrated and the training and expense could go to better things. (Probably true.) And the fact that the taser can be used as ammunition against the cop in court. I.E. suspect pulls knife on cop, cop shoots suspeect dead, why shoot with lethal before non-lethal?

Whereas the officers I've talked with who have never had to use them have said they have already paid for themselves. Fighting with a suspect always causes injuries toward the suspect or the cop. Or both. (The attitude of the police is if it is a fight you want, then you go to the hospital.) That causes an expense and loss of time for the offender and/or arrestor. They've told me just pulling the taser and lighting up a suspect who is trying to fight with the cops turns them cooperative.

So in the end, I am neutral. I can't doubt first hand accounts yet I do believe they are a liability and overrated. And worst of all, prone to abuse by larger cities.